Minor lands 2-year deal with Royals
Despite being non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves in December, Mike Minor was still able to land a multi-year contract from the reigning World Series champions, signing a two-year, $7.5-million deal with the Kansas City Royals on Friday that includes a mutual option for 2018.
The 28-year-old will earn $2 million this year and $4 million in 2017, with a $10-million mutual option for the following campaign that includes a $1.5-million buyout. This year, Minor can earn up to $330,000 in bonuses, with another $450,000 to be made in bonuses next season.
Minor, the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft, missed the entire 2015 campaign after shoulder discomfort that first surfaced in spring training prompted season-ending surgery for a torn labrum in May. After spending the entire season on the disabled list, Minor - a second-year arbitration-eligible player - was not extended a contract by the Braves, the only organization he's played for thus far.
Before his shoulder trouble, however, Minor had been a stalwart in Atlanta's rotation for several years, crafting a 3.94 ERA in 87 starts from 2012 through 2014 while leading the club in innings pitched over that span.
| Season | WAR | ERA | FIP | K/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1.2 | 4.12 | 4.38 | 2.59 |
| 2013 | 3.5 | 3.21 | 3.37 | 3.93 |
| 2014 | 0.3 | 4.77 | 4.39 | 2.73 |
Minor won't be on the 25-man roster come April, though, as Royals general manager Dayton Moore confirmed Friday that the recovering left-hander won't be available for "six weeks to two months" as of Opening Day. At this point, it remains unclear what his role in Kansas City will be when he's ready to return to the majors.